Clip type system for bags and methods of manufacture

ABSTRACT

The clip system to close/open bag mouth, comprises in combination:—female-male-elements;—means of articulation acting as snap free spring;—anti-tampering means;—sealing means;—means to smoothly tear cutting;—handle means to transport the container;—and reinforcing sleeve to avoid unhooking of heavy containers.

DESCRIPTION

The invention concerns systems for sheet bodies preferably formed ascontainers, comprising:—a device substantially of the clip type;—a sheetbody to be repeatedly opened and closed as well as to be protectedagainst tamperings.

The invention comprises also the relevant methods to manufacture saiddevices as well as their application on preferably preformed zones ofsaid bodies.

In an embodiment of wide, immediate and economical utilization, thesystem substantially comprises:—a body of containement with invitationsin prestablished positions; and—a clip device consisting of two majorcomponents of reciprocal coupling/.uncoupling, in particular of the malerespectively female type, integral with:—conjunction means of controlledelasticity;—articulation means;—sealing means;—movimentationmeans;—tear-cut means;—anti-tampering means; and—undesired unhookinginhibiting means.

The invention further comprises methods to manufacture said devices andto assembly them with said containers, as well as an additional process,mechanism or station of on-line assembly.

PRIOR ART

With the always increasing diffusion of the packaging mainly made ofsynthetic flexible materials, is exponentially increased the need ofsystems and devices able to block, close, open, handle, and protect saidbodies, as well as to dose the material therein contained generally inquantities above the mono-dose.

To face these exigencies several solutions have been proposed, whichhave patent croweded the relevant technological field, not only becauseof the diversity of the demands but also because of the inadequacy andinexistence of a radical solution capable to satisfy at least the mosturgent market needs.

Just to fix the ideas it seems convenient to refer to the mostsignificants inventions according f.i. to the U.S. Pat. No. 3,266,711,U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,945, U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,335, U.S. Pat. No.4,926,526, U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,572 and to the European PatentApplications EP No. 0156779 and No. 0625949 B1 (corresponding to U.S.Pat. No. 5,598,608 and WO 93/16930).

The major part of the suggested solutions is centralized and resort toadditional mechanism to block and unblock said clip devices.

Emblematically claim 1 of said EP 0625949 B1 recites a plastic clipapplicable on a container portion and consisting of two articulatedmembers which can be coupled so to lock or seal said portion, and to beuncoupled (unlocked) with the aid of a snaplock arrangement at the freeends of said members, one of which additionally comprises an elasticallyresilient bridge having a slight arcuate convex configuration with atongue which locks on a shoulder of the other member.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,108 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,168 describe and claimmeans comprising tongues, shoulders and flanges, associated to thelocking and reception members, respectively means to cut containerportions.

On its turn U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,572 claims the improvement consisting ina “laguna” obtained by ribs and lips portions.

In substance the Prior Art seems conditioned by the need to provideseparate additional mechanisms each of which accomplish one or at mosttwo functions: indeed it is neither described nor hinted amulti-functional, simple, synthetic device. And this might be one of thereasons of the absence or disappearance out of the market of the majorpart of the Prior Art devices at least apparently near or similar tothose according to the invention.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide a systemcomprising a bag clip which eliminates the inconveniences anddeficiences of the Prior Art.

Nay the fondamental object of the invention is to provide a device sostructured to accomplish not only one contemporaneous ensemble offunctions but also to attain a maximum-maximorum of characteristics andperformances, on the combination of which lay heavy not only the silencebut also the technical prejudice of the Prior Art.

A further object of the invention is to provide methods for the bestmanufacture and utilization of said device and for its preferablyon-line assembly with the containers.

The more important characteristics of the invention are recited in theclaims at the end of this specification which may however be consideredherewith incorporated.

The various features and advantages of the invention will better appearfrom the following description of the (illustrative but not limitative)embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic perspective views of the clip deviceaccording to the invention, with the two components, male M and femaleF, in open (uncoupled) position (1), respectively in closed (coupled)position (2) (FIG. 2); therefore wherever the references (1) and (2)appear associated to components M, F and C (containers, bags), theycharacterize same components in said positions, open (1) respectivelyclosed (2);

FIGS. 3.1 and 3.2 are schematic transversal cross-section views of M andF in said positions open (1) respectively closed (2);

FIGS. 4.1-4.2, 5.1-5.2, 6.1-6.3 are schematic perspective views of thesystem of the invention in its configuration of the device D.1 open onbag C, respectively closed D.2, with the anti-tampering means LA open inposition LA1 (FIG. 5.1) respectively closed in position LA2 (FIG. 5.2)and cut LA3 (FIG. 6.3) with the consequent return to the initial openconfiguration D1 (FIG. 6.1);

FIGS. 7, 7′; 8 and 8′ are perspective views of clips inserted on-line onalready closed bags, thus with antitampering tongue opened (FIG. 7) andadvantageously soldered (FIG. 7′) at the end of the line (FIGS. 7 and7′), respectively of clips for the heavy bags (f.i. above 3 Kg)reinforced with a sleeve RS on female component F (FIGS. 8 and 8′);

FIG. 7″ is a front view of said post-soldered tongues;

FIG. 8″ is a cross-section view of the reinforcing sleeve RS on thefemale component F for heavy bags; and

FIGS. 9, 9′, 9″ and 10 are top view of systems apparatus to assemblyon-line the clips and bags.

In all the drawings the invention core, i.e. the multifunctional clipdevice D to repeatedly open-close, to tear cut, to signal tampering,movement, volumes to extract, conjunctions without snap-springs, on-lineassembly etc, comprises the elements male M and female F in theirvarious phases and positions of:—opening or uncoupling (1) (FIGS. 1, 3.1and 5.1);—coupling or closure (2) (FIGS. 2, 3.2 and 5.2); —assembly onthe container body C (FIGS. 4.1 and 5.1); and—disassembly (3) (FIGS. 6.3and 6.1).

Typically the male element M has an outer surface ME f.i.semicylindrical (FIG. 1) or flat (FIG. 3.1) and an inner surface MI ofthe tongs jaws type consisting of two stiff portions 6, 6′ separated bya pit or empty space V (f.i. in the shape of an upset V).

The inner surface FI of the female element F can have a horseshoeconfiguration comprising flanks 7-7′ forming an open mouth at the endfacing element M, and bottom SF within which is a projection (projectingridge) RI having f.i; a truncated cone shape with cylindricalgeneratrix, complementary to said pit V within the male element M.

Preferably flanks 7, 7′ are so chamfered to create an invitation IFwhich facilitates the penetration of M within F (see FIGS. 3.1 and 3.2).Typically at least one of said two flanks, f.i. flank 7, is provided atits top with a cut knurl 10.

The inner structures MI of M and FI of F are such to realize arigid-elastic coupling which can be uncoupled by manual forces. Stilltypically, said two members M and F are coupled at one end with anarticulation A formed by two extensions AM and AF (integral with Mrespectively F) having material compounds less rigid than that of themajor portions of M and F, and dimensions (above all, the length of theprotrusion ES) and thicknesses such as to bring about an elastic meansof a spring without uncontrollable snaps or releases which couldunexpectedly cause the opening or detachement of the device D from thecontainer C.

At the end apposed to A, each member M and F is provided with a tongueLM, LF which bring about an anti-tampering means LA by their reciprocalcoupling.

Also the structure (composition and dimessions) of tongues LM and LF ispreferably different from that of the bodies or major portions of M andF as well as of A. Preferably said tongues will be easely bondable toeach other and their union LA will be detached or cut, f.i. with the aidof scissors 15 (FIG. 6.3).

Indeed to act as an anti-tampering means LA has not to be opened orclosed by a difficultly observable action. If LA is anyhow opened, itmust leave a visible sign of the modification of its initial orprecedent configuration.

Typically also the limb LA of the closed mouth of container C has aninvitation IC in one or more positions.

The positioning of device D.1 (open) takes place as in FIG. 5.1 namelyby placing M and F each on a face of container C, in correspondence ofthe invitation IC (FIGS. 4.1 and 5.1), in that disposition male elementM is pushed (arrow Z of FIG. 3.1 and arrows X of FIG. 4.1) againstfemale element F taking thereby the pit V of M on horseback ofprotrusion RI of F as in FIG. 3.2 and taking limb LE of the mouth of bagC from its erect position LE.1 of FIG. 4.1 to the fold position LE.2 ofFIG. 4.2. The uncoupling takes place as in FIGS. 6.3 and 6.1. Startingfrom the configuration of FIG. 5.2 the closed anti-tampering means LA.2is opened by detaching the tongues LM2 from LF2 (or viceversa) or, morerapidly, by cutting with scissors 15 the coupled elements LM2-LF2. Atthis point limb LE2 is raised upwards (arrow G) taking it from the foldposition of FIG. 4.2 to the raised position of FIG. 6.1 and a force isapplied on device D′.1 in the direction of arrow P, so to detach thejaws 6-6′ of MI from the protrusion RI of F.

The raised limb LE.1 of container C is thereby pushed against the knurl10 which carries out a soft tear or cut.

Advantageously a handle 9 is obtained on the outer surface of one of thetwo elements, preferably of the element which will take the moreexternal disposition, f.i. on the back of female element F as in theFIGS. 3.1, 3.2.

This handle acts as effective means to move or desplace container Cwhich, even if fully loaded, will have such a weight to not disconnectthe form- or joint-coupling of FIG. 3.2.

The complex members M and F of clip device D are manufactured byextrusion-injection of plastomeric compounds such as olefinicco-polimers with major or minor amounts of elastomers (natural orsynthetic rubbers in particular ter-co-polimers of styrene, butadine,butylene, acrylontrile, ethylene, propylene, dienes etc.).

Significantly the articulation means S (spring without unexptectableloosing snaps) and the antitampering means LA are made from compounds ofpolyolefinic plastomers (PE, PP etc.) and of not-negligeable amounts ofelastomers so to have the desired elasticity and softness in contrastwith the stiffness of the compound forming the major portions of M andF. The same applies to the inner surface of M and F. After all,differentiated compounds will be extruded in succession to form thusmembers M and F with relevant appendices A and LA, having alsodifferentiated plastic-elastomeric behaviour.

In the current industrial practice are commercially avaiable machines,compounds, ingredients etc. for the simplest and mostly performantembodiment of the system according to the invention involving a clipdevice with the surprising combination of an opening/closing means, ofan articulation means (spring withouth snaps), of an anti-tamperingmeans, of a displacing means, of a tear-cut means, of a conjunctionmeans etc. to assembly in correspondence of the container limb portionsprovided with adeguate invitation;

FIGS. 7, 7′ and 7″ show a clip D which is inserted on the closed mouthLA of a bag C, out or at the end of a fill and form line; the insertionand closure means being simply indicated in the form of pliers,sucker-pliers, robotizable arms (not represented) and the like.

After the insertion (at the end of f.i. a form and filling line, FFL)and the closure (preferably with the aid of pliers) the closed mouthportion LA is folded downwards (90° rotation) and two soldering headsH-H′ weld the tongues LF-LM in their horizontal superposed position ofFIGS. 7′ and 7″; The advantage is that the insertion and closure step ofFIG. 7 f.i. with the aid of any plier, the downward folding of the bagmouth with the closed clip, and the welding of said lips LF-LM can bemade at any moment, out of the f.i. FFL line, with portable meansgenerally at the disposal of any user, even f.i. housewifes.

In FIGS. 8, 8′ is shown an improved clip to avoid easy unhooking oruncoupling. Indeed especially in the case of heavy bags, f.i. abovethree kilos, clips tend easely to uncouple and unhook. It has been foundthat by simply applying a reinforcing sleeve RS showing preferably atoothed grip TG, on at least a portion of the female F, this lastelement presses the male element M exerting thereby a strong couplingforce avoiding any unexpected unhooking under a bag heavy load.

FIGS. 9, 9′, 9″ show an apparatus (fully- or semi-automated) to assemblyclip D and bags. It comprises substantially a line with a conveyor belt3′ receiving, on one side, formed and filled bags 2′ from a packagingunit 1′ and, from an other side, clips D (on a suitable carrier) fromthe vibrating-screening basket 4′ feeding clips to a descending channel5′ which, on its turn, feeds said clips to a device 10′ comprisingpneumatic pliers 6′ that take said clips from the carrier, open them,insert and blok them on the bag heads.

The movement of the bags 2′ from the packaging unit 1′ can befacilitated by an optional pusher 8′. The pliers 6′ open the clipautomatically on the first contact with the bag. Once the clips areinserted and fixedly blocked on the bag, a couple of sealing embossers 7is taken into contact with the bag head and welds the tongues or lipsLF-LM (compare FIGS. 9′ and 9″).

FIG. 10 shows a speedy apparatus in which the feed of filled bags from1′ is quicker, the bags from conveyor 3′ are alternatively sorted on twoarms 5′ which feed two stations in parallel each comprising a contactdevice with pneumatic pliers to open the clip OD on the arrival of thebags 2.

The opened clip arms are inserted on the bag mouth and the tongues orlips at the ends of the clip arms are automatically welded.

Even if the invention has been described with reference to theembodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, same invention issuscettible of all those modifications, substitutions, variantsadditions and the like which, being at the reach of a mean technician ofthis field, are to be considered included in the scope and in the spiritof the invention.

1. System to open/close sheet-formed bodies in particular containers,bags, sacs and the like, made of paper and/or synthetic materials andprovided with a closable mouth at one end thereof, said systemcomprising a clip device consisting of a male element (M) and a femaleelement (F) having at one end thereof a common articulation able to beinserted in an open or uncoupled configuration on a portion or limb ofsaid mouth, and to lock or seal thereupon assuming a closed or coupledconfiguration which imprisons said limb portion, characterized by thecombination of:—means of articulation acting as a snap-free spring atone of the two ends of said essentially longitudinal elements, formed ofcontinuous protuberances integral with each other and with saidelements;—anti-tampering means at the second opposite end of sameelements, comprising two small separate tongues each projecting fromeach element male respectively female;—sealing means resulting from theform-coupling of fixed joints complementary to each other made on/insaid (M) and (F) elements;—means to smootly tear cutting made of knurlon the top of one of the flanks of the female element;—possible carryingmeans to move or transport the container; wherein said multifuntionaland highly perfomant clip device is associated to a portion of thecontainer mouth limb, provided with an ad hoc coupling means.
 2. Systemaccording to claim 1, in which said male element has a solid cylindricalshape whereas the female element has an at least partially hollow shape.3. System according to claim 1, in which the male element has incross-section the shape of a partially opened pincers.
 4. Systemaccording to claim 1, in which the female element has a cross section inform of a horse shoe with a central male protrusion penetrating into anempty partially opened portion of the male pincers.
 5. System accordingto claim 1, in which the top inner portion of one of the female elementflanks is in form of a knurl.
 6. System according to claim 1, in which ahandle is on the outer back of the female element.
 7. System accordingto claim 1, in which a reinforcing partial sleeve is on a portion ofsaid female element and has on outer toothed grip.
 8. System accordingto claim 1, in which the clip male element is inserted on a bag mouthcoupling means with the aid of pincers, arms and the like whereas thewelding of the lips at the ends of the male and female components iscarried out by heat-sealing heads, even out of line.
 9. Method toassemble, deassemble on/from a container mouth a clip device accordingto claim 1, comprising the steps of:—providing the container mouth witha coupling means;—providing the female element with a reinforcing sleeveand a handle;—opening the clip by separating its male- andfemale-elements;—applying in correspondence of said coupling means theclip device in said opened configuration;—inserting the male elementinto the female element by forcing to a narrow coupling the penetrationof the male element pincers on the central protrusion of the horse shoeshaped female element;—sealing the lips at the free ends of bothelements.
 10. Apparatus to automatically apply the clip of claim 1 onthe mouth of a container comprising:—a conveyor of formed and filledbags from a packaging unit;—at least a vibrating-screening container ofclips to be fed to a device receiving both said bags and clips andcomprising pneumatic pliers to open the male and female elements onarrival of the bags against the clip proximal end;—means to insert saidopened clip elements on the bag mouth invitation; and—means to seal theprojecting lips.